Seijun Suzuki retreads a staple cinematic rumination of post-war Japan, disillusionment with traditional honor codes clash with the shortcomings of personal agency and the individual. Suzuki isn’t saying anything new here and the development of his characters is shallow, instead it’s his technique as director that mirrors the conflicts of his characters. Seijun delivers a movie that is part tired Japanese crime film and part experimental stylistic kaleidoscope. Atavistic honor codes clash with this contemporary auteur-ish flair, to the detriment of the film, but no doubt Suzuki answers the question posed to his characters through his uniqueness as a filmmaker.
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